City Missioner Dame Diane Robertson has urged every Aucklander to Become Someone's Angel and support the Mission's Christmas Appeal. Photo: Greg Bowker
City Missioner Dame Diane Robertson has urged every Aucklander to Become Someone's Angel and support the Mission's Christmas Appeal. Photo: Greg Bowker
Auckland City Mission has launched its Christmas appeal to prepare for the thousands of struggling Auckland families who will come through the doors over the holiday period.
City Missioner Dame Diane Robertson has urged every Aucklander to Become Someone's Angel and support the Mission's Christmas Appeal in order to ensurethat those who desperately need support are able to receive it.
"The people who seek the Mission's help, especially in the lead-up to Christmas, do so for countless different reasons."
"Illness, accidents, job losses and the death of loved ones can trigger financial desperation. Children are out of school, meaning additional funds may need to go towards childcare, or struggling parents find themselves needing to feed and look after extended family members. The stress associated with this time of year also leads to higher incidences of family violence and relationship separation, leaving vulnerable children and their caregivers without the resources - or even a safe place - to celebrate Christmas."
December 31st will mark City Missioner Dame Diane Robertson's final day as Auckland City Missioner. Dame Diane, who has steered the organisation for twenty-two years, says that the challenges faced by Aucklanders have increased over the course of her tenure.
"I've worked at the Mission for more than two decades and have witnessed time and again how incredibly generous the Auckland community can be. Please help make this our most successful Christmas Appeal yet by Becoming Someone's Angel today. A donation of just $10 is enough to pay for someone - a vulnerable child, isolated elderly person, or rough sleeper - to enjoy a hot meal on Christmas Day."
Auckland City Mission says the level of desperate need in New Zealand's largest city remains as high as ever, with the Mission distributing 10,924 emergency food parcels in the year to June, 2015 - the bulk of which were given to families with children.
